Connection Recipes: Exploring Optimum Connection Practices through a Data-Driven Approach

Abstract

Although numerous studies have investigated how shocks and vibrations contribute to bottomhole assembly (BHA) failures during hole-making, very few have explicitly focused on shock and vibrational behaviors during drillpipe connections. This study adopts a data-driven approach to explore various connection practices and their associated shocks and vibrations, aiming to propose optimum "connection recipes" that minimize negative drillstring impacts during connections. This study utilized data from surface sensors as well as downhole accelerometers and gyroscopes installed both at a downhole sub and the bit. In total, 520 connections from 5 lateral sections were studied. Several quality checks and corrections were performed to ensure synchronization between surface and downhole data. The analyses focused on two connection phases specifically: going off-bottom and going back to bottom. The presence of stick-slip events and high magnitudes of both maximum and root mean squared (RMS) radial accelerations were examined together with the associated surface drilling parameters. Various visualization approaches were performed to help demonstrate the vibration and shock behaviors resulting from different going off-bottom and going back to bottom practices. The analyses showed that restarting surface rotational speed at low values (≤ 40 RPM) risks inducing stick-slip events when going back to bottom. When the surface RPM was increased sufficiently, a notable reduction in RMS radial acceleration was observed. Maximum radial acceleration magnitude was highest before WOB application, which could be mitigated by immediate WOB re-application. Appreciable variation in the maximum radial acceleration was apparent when restarting at low (≤ 15 klbf) WOB values. When going off-bottom, drilling off should be accompanied by a reduction in the surface rotational speed to avoid a jump in the maximum radial acceleration values. This work provides suggestions on how to execute better connections. Since the impacts of shocks and vibrations during connections have previously been largely overlooked, this study fills a knowledge gap to help establish better practices and automation routines to improve the lifespan of the bit and downhole tools.